Staggered sheet feeder



June 5, 1956 M. RAWE 2,748,917

STAGGERED SHEET FEEDER Filed Oct. 1, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet l &

Inventor:

Win62, flew June 5, 1956 M. RAWE 2,748,917

STAGGERED SHEET FEEDER Filed Oct. 1, 1954 Warm, flew June 5, 1956 M. RAWE STAGGERED SHEET FEEDER 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Oct. 1, 1954 June 5, 1956 M. RAWE 2,748,917

STAGGERED SHEET FEEDER Filed Oct. 1, 1954 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 War-26 Ian STAGGERED SHEET FEEDER Martin Rawe, Tecklenhnrg, Germany Application October 1, 1954-, Serial No. 459,597

Claims priority, application Germany May 26, 1 54 12 Claims. (Cl. 198-35) The present invention relates to the feeding of workpieces to paper working machines, and is particularly directed to a method and device for feeding piles of sheets or blanks in staggered or scalloped fashion to the feeder table of machines of this type.

For the staggered arrangement of piles of blanks on the feeder table, it has so far been necessary to lift up by hand the rear end of the last pile on the feeder table and to push the newly to be added pile under that lifted-up rear end. This kind of work requires a special kind of skill and can be carried out without considerable loss of time by one operator only if the work-pieces or blanks to be handled are comparatively small. When the piles of blanks are heavier and of larger size, two persons for this Work are absolutely needed. And even when two people are doing the work, there will be usually areduction in speed of the feeding means and of the paper working machine coupled to the feeding means. it is a fact, therefore, that the productivity of the main machine, to which the feeding means are coupled, is considerably reduced when large work-pieces are worked, for example large paper hoses of the type required in the manufacture of bags for cattle feed, flour, sugar or the like.

The invention overcomes the aforesaid deficiencies of known feeding devices by a method according to which the pile of blanks, which is to be added to-the piles already positioned on the feeder table, is placed on a reciprocable conveying means arranged at the starting end of the feeder table and provided at its forward end, facing the already accumulated piles, with supporting means for rolls or sliding means in such a way that forward move ment of the reciprocable conveying means and its supporting means for rolls or sliding means results in lifting of the last one of the already accumulated piles to such an extent that the new pile to be added can be pushed underneath it without difficulty. As soon as the movable conveying means, with the new pile of blanks resting on it, has reached its ultimate position, the aforesaid supporting means of rolls or sliding means are automatically released and thus caused to drop into a horizontally extending position, whereupon the previously lifted pile of blanks likewise drops down and comes to rest upon the newly added pile. When after this the movable conveying means and its supporting means of rolls or sliding means is moved back to its starting position, the newly added pile of blanks rolls down from the belts and rolls of the movable conveying means in such manner that a shifting of the position of the newly added pile does not occur. When the movable conveying means again reaches its starting position, its supporting means of rolls or sliding means are automatically lifted up again and locked in that uplifted position.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be understood from a consideration of the following de tailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification and in which two embodiments of the invention have been shown by way of example. However, I wish to say that 2,748,917 Patented June 5, 1956 "ice the invention is not confined to any strict conformity with the showing of the drawings, but may be changed or modified, so long as such changes or modifications mark no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings, in which like parts are referred to by the same reference numerals in all of the several figures,

Fig. l is a side view of the feeding device showing the piles of blanks arranged on the feeder table in staggered or scalloped fashion, and showing further the movable conveying frame at the starting end of the feeding path in starting condition;

Fig. 2 is atop view of the feeding device of Fig. 1 after removal of the piles of blanks;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the feeding device at the moment a new pile of blanks is added to the several piles already accumulated on the feeder table;

Fig. 4 is a side view of the feeding device similar to that of Fig. 3 prior to the return movement of the movable conveying frame to starting position;

Fig. 5 is a side view of a modified form of construction of the feeding device with the movable conveying frame in starting position;

Fig. 6 is a side View of the feeding device of Fig. 5 at the miament the new pile is added to the already accumulated pi es;

Fig. 7 is a side view of the feeding device of Fig. 5 prior to the return movement of the movable conveying frame to starting position;

Fig. 8 is a side view of hand operated controlling means for the mechanical actuation of the forward movement of the movable conveying frame;

Fig. 9 is a front view of the device for the mechanical forward movement of the movable conveying frame.

Referring now to the drawings in detail, the reference numeral 1 designates the feeder table of a feeding device for paper working machines. The feeder table 1 is provided with the rolls 2 and the endless conveying belts 3 for the work-pieces or blanks or sheets 4, such as paper hoses packed up in piles arranged in staggered or scalloped or scale-like fashion. Positioned before the feeder table 1 is a conveying device 10 provided at itsrear end with a stop member 5. The conveying device It) is mounted on the frame or bed-plate of the paper working machine or on a special frame and adapted for forward and backward movement in straight-lined direction. At this reciprocable conveying device are arranged on rolls 6 the endless belts 7, on which is placed the new pile of blanks 8 to be fed to the feeder table. Arranged before the conveying device at the end of the latter turned toward the feeder table 1, are the rotatable supporting members 11 provided with the rolls 12 and, at the end facing the feeder table 1, with the guide member 13 of sheet metal. Fastened at the rotatable supporting members 11 at suitable distance from the pivoting point of the latter is a downwardly extending supporting arm 14 carrying at its free lower end a roll 15 adapted for cooperation with a wedge-like or curvelike ascending stationary control member 16 In addition to this, the supporting member 11 (of the rolls 12) is provided with a supporting arm 17 which likewise extends in downward direction at a distance from thepivoting point 9, and for which at the reciprocable frame it of the conveying device a movable rest 18 is provided. The rest 18 is coupled to a locking mechanism (not illus trated in the drawings) which secures the rest 18 (against the action of a spring) in effective position, and whiclris moved by a rod 19 into releasing position when that rod 19 hits against a stationary stop 20 adjustably positioned in the direction of motion of the conveying device 10.

The movable frame or carriage 10 with its rolls 6, endless belts 7 and rotatable supporting members 11- of the rolls 12 is arranged in straight-lined extensions of the interspaces between the conveying belts 3 of the feeder table 1, so that it can be moved from its starting position illustrated in Fig. 1 into the piling position illustrated in Figs. 3 and 4 and back again. In the starting position, the rotatable supporting members 11 are in the rearwardly ascending position shown in Fig. l, and are secured in that position by the aforesaid locking mechanism. When the carriage 10 with its belts 6, 7 and its supporting members 11 and rolls 12 advances, the last pile of blanks 4 on the feeder table 1 has its rear end lifted by the sheetmetal members 13 onto the rolls 12 of the supporting member 11, whereby the rolls 12 roll along on the underside of the pile of blanks 4 and lift the pile into the rearwardly ascending position shown in Fig. 3. When the last pile of blanks 4 is in this position, the release rod 19 hits against the stationary stop 20 and thereby moves the locking mechanism and the rest 18 secured by the locking mechanism in locking position, into releasing position against the action of the aforesaid spring. The supporting arm 17 slips down from the rest 18, and the rotatable supporting member 11 swings, by reason of its own weight, into the position shown in Fig. 4, causing thereby the last pile of blanks 4 on the feeder table 1 to move down and come to rest on the newly added pile of blanks 8. When the slidelike or carriage-like supporting frame 10, provided with the roll-supports 11 and with the conveying belts 7 and rolls 6, is moved back to starting position, the newly added pile of blanks 8, weighted by the superposed pile 4, rolls off the belts 7 mounted on the loose rolls 6. Instead of mounting on the supporting members 11 the rolls 12, it is also possible to use slide members of sheet metal or the like. Before the slide-like or carriage-like supporting frame 10 provided with the supporting members 11 and belts 6, 7 reaches the starting position, the roll 15 at the lower end of the supporting arm 14 moves up on the wedge-like or curve-like slide member 16 and thereby lifts the roll-support 11 into the rearwardly ascending starting position. The rest 18 of the locking mechanism slips, owing to spring action, under the supporting arm 17 and thereby secures the supporting member 11 and its rolls 12 in the ascending initial position.

In the modified form of construction illustrated in Figs. and 6 the rotatable supporting member 11 provided with the rolls 12 is rotated by the supporting arm 21 and roll 15 (against the action of a spring) only during its forward movement into the rearwardly ascending position. From an inspection of the drawings it will be seen that the lifting of the supporting arm 21 and roll 15 is effected by the control member 24 which is adjustably arranged in the path of the slide or carriage and provided with the wedge-like or curve-like ascending operating edge 22 and with the descending edge 23. The arrangement of the other parts corresponds to that of the form of construction of Figs. 2 to 4.

In Fig. 5, the reciprocable slide-like supporting frame 10 of the conveying device is shown in its starting position, with the roll-support 11 in horizontal position, and with the newly to be added pile of blanks 8 deposited on the belts 7. During the forward movement of the frame 10. the roll-support 11 is rotated through upward rolling of its supporting arm 21 with roll on the ascending edge 22 of the stationary control member 24 into the rearwardly ascending position of Fig. 6, with the result that the last pile of blanks 4 on the feeder table 1 is likewise lifted into that rearwardly ascending position. When the forward movement of the frame 10 continues, the supporting arm 21 with its roll 15 rolls down on the descending edge 23 of the control member 24. The consequence is that the roll-support 11 swings down again and that the last pile of blanks 4 drops down and comes to rest upon the newly added pile of blanks 8. When the slide-like or carriage-like supporting frame 10 is moved back into starting position, the newly added pile of blanks'8 weighted by the last pile of blanks 4 rolls of! the belts 7 and rolls 6. The rotatable supporting arm 21 with its roll 15 bears against the rearwardly ascending edge 23 and is displaced by the latter in forward direction against the action of a spring to such an extent that no lifting of the roll-support 1.1 takes place. After the supporting arm 21 and its roll 15 have slipped over the top of the control member 24 and during their descent on the operating edge 22, the rotatable supporting arm 21 and its roll 15 are moved by the action of a spring back into the initial position. When the slide or carriage 10 reaches its starting position illustrated in Fig. 5, the belts 7 are ready for the support and conveyance of a new pile of blanks 8. Also in this modified form of construction it is possible to substitute slide members of sheet metal for the rolls 12. In the form of construction of Figs. 1 to 4, as well as in the modified form of construction of Figs, 5 to 7, the stop 20 and the cam-like control member 24, respectively, are adapted for accurate adjustment in the direction of motion of the slide or carriage 10.

Figs. 8 and 9 show hand operated controlling means and mechanically actuated means for the forward movement of the conveying device 10. On the driving shaft 25 is fastened a driving gear 26, and loosely rotatably supported a lever 27. By means of the lever 27 the drive of the conveying device is moved into and out of engage ment. The engagement or disengagement can be effected either by hand or automatically by means of a device (not illustrated in the drawings). Loosely rotatably mounted on an arm which is rigidly connected to the lever 27, are a gear 28 and a friction roll 29 which is rigidly connected to the gear 28. The gear 28 is in constant mesh with the driving gear 26 and drives the friction roll 29. Mounted on a shaft 30 are two pinions 31, which engage in racks 32, and a friction roll 33 positioned opposite the friction roll 29. Rotation of the lever 27 moves the friction roll 29 into engagement with the friction roll 33 and thus actuates the pinions 31 mounted on the shaft 30. In this way the conveying device 10 is moved into working position. The forward movement of the slide-like or carriage-like frame 10 and the control of the forward movement can be effected selectively either by hand or in combination with the machine drive.

In case of inclined arrangement of the path or guideway of the conveying device, the slide-like or carriagelike supporting frame 10 moves, after the driving means have been stopped, automatically back by gravity on the inclined guide-way to its starting position.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a device for feeding piles of sheets or blanks in staggered or scalloped fashion to the feeder table of a paper working machine, the combination with the feeder table and the piles of blanks already accumulated thereon in staggered or scalloped fashion, of reciprocable conveying means for the support and conveyance of the new pile of blanks to be added to those already accumulated on the feeder table; guiding means on which said conveying means are movably mounted and adapted to guide said conveying means in straight-lined direction to and away from said feeder table; lifting means rotatably secured to the forward end of the conveying means facing the feeder table and adapted to engage during the forward movement of the conveying means beneath the rear end of the last pile on the feeder table and to lift said rear end above the plane of the upper surface of the new pile to be added; and controlling means adapted to rotate said rotatable lifting means during the forward and backward movement of said conveying means automatically into or out of lifting position according to requirements.

2. A device as specified in claim 1, in which said rotatable lifting means consist of a rotatable arm having its :forward end pivoted to the forward end of said conveying means and provided at its rearwardly extending body with sliding means and with at least one downwardly extending supporting member; and in which said controlling means are adjustably arranged in the path of the conveying means and provided with operating edges adapted to lift or lower in cam-like fashion said rotatable lifting means according to requirements when contacted during the forward and backward movement of said conveying means by said downwardly extending supporting member of said lifting means.

3. A device as specified in claim 1, in which said rotatable lifting means consist of a rotatable arm having its forward end pivoted to the forward end of said conveying means and provided at its rearwardly extending body with sliding means and with a downwardly extending supporting member carrying at its lower end a roll; and in which said controlling means are adjustably arranged in the path of the conveying means and provided with operating edges adapted to lift or lower in cam-like fashion said rotatable lifting means according to requirements when during the forward and backward movement of said conveying means said roll at the lower end of said supporting member of said lifting means is caused to roll over said operating edges.

4. A device as specified in claim 1, in which said rotatable lifting means consist of a rotatable arm having its forward end pivoted to the forward end of said conveying means and provided at its rearwardly extending body with sliding means and with a downwardly extending supporting member carrying at its lower end a roll and with a second downwardly extending supporting member; and in which said controlling means consist of a movable carrying member provided at said conveying means for said second downwardly extending supporting member of said lifting means to be supported on for the support of said lifting means in lifting position,.0f a spring elastically securing said movable carrying member in its supporting position, of a releasing member shiftably arranged at said conveying means and adapted to hit at the end of the forward movement of said conveying means against an adjustable stop provided at said feeder table and to thereby expell said carrying member against the resistance of said spring from its supporting position for the release of said rotatable lifting means from their lifting position, and of an operating member provided with a rearwardly ascending operating edge arranged in the path of the conveying means and adapted to return through guidance of the roll of said first downwardly extending supporting member on its operating edge at the end of the backward movement of said conveying means said second downwardly extending supporting member to its supports positon on said carrying member for the return of said lifting means to lifting position.

5. A device as specified in claim 1, in which said rotatable lifting means consist of a rotatable arm having its forward end pivoted to the forward end of said conveying means and provided at its rearwardly extending body with sliding means and with a rotatable downwardly extending supporting member carrying a roll at its lower end and elastically secured in supporting position by a spring.

6. A device as specified in claim 1, in which said rotat able lifting means consist of a rotatable arm having its forward end pivoted to the forward end of said conveying means and provided at its forward end with a rearwardly ascending slide member adapted to engage during the forward movement of said conveying means beneath the rear end of the last pile on the feeder table, and with a plurality of rolls behind said slide member, and with at least one downwardly extending supporting membet.

7. A device as specified in claim 1, in which said reciprocable conveying means is provided with rolls and endless belts mounted on said rolls, and in which the new pile to be added is placed on said endless belts and at the beginning of the backward movement of the reciprocable conveying means rolls off from said endless belts.

8. A device as specified in claim 1, including driving means for said reciprocable conveying means and said lifting means, and motion transmitting means adapted to move said driving means into and out of engagement with the machine drive.

9. A device as specified in claim 1, including driving means for said reciprocable conveying means and said lifting means, and motion transmitting means adapted to move said driving means into and out of engagement with the machine drive, said motion transmitting means being rotatably mounted at a lever loosely rotatably supported on a driving shaft.

10. A device as specified in claim 1, in which said guiding means for said conveying means and appertaining lifting means are so arranged with respect to said feeder table that the return movement of said conveying means and lifting means is automatically effected through gravity.

11. A device as specified in claim 1, including spring means arranged in such a way that the return move ment of said conveying means and lifting means is automatically effected through the action of said spring means.

12. The method of feeding piles of sheets or blanks in underlapping or scalloped fashion to the feeding supporting means of a paper Working machine, which consists in, placing each new pile of blanks to be added to the piles on the feeding supporting means of the paper working machine on a sliding reciprocable conveying means disposed before said supporting means of the paper working machine, advancing said sliding reciprocable conveying means with said new pile of blanks to said paper working machine, at the same time lifting the rear end of the last one of the piles already accumulated on the feeding supporting means of the paper working machine by mechanical means until said rear end of said last pile extends well beyond the forward end of said new pile of blanks transported to said feeding supporting means of the paper working machine, lowering said lifted rear end of said last pile until it rests upon said new pile to hold the latter in this position on the feeding supporting means when said sliding reciprocable conveying means is subsequently moved in its initial position.

No references cited. 

